NJ Inmate Convicted Of Strangling Another Inmate

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey jury has convicted a Newark man in the killing of a fellow inmate he tried to rob at a correctional facility in Newark.

The jury acquitted 31-year-old Giancarlo Bonilla on Wednesday of the most serious charge, murder, but it found him guilty on felony murder, robbery and conspiracy charges.

Prosecutors say Bonilla strangled Derrick West Harris of Newark, a 51-year-old barber who’d been brought to the Delaney Hall correctional facility two days earlier in May 2009 for unpaid traffic tickets.

The Star-Ledger of Newark reports that two other inmates were charged. One has pleaded guilty to robbery. The other is awaiting trial.

Bonilla faces 30 years to life in prison at sentencing March 18.

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One Comment

Newark SUCKS. I moved to Newark in June 2010. really just because of the cheap rent. I recieved a traffic ticket for a minor incident. I requested a hearing and at the hearing I was found NOT GUILTY. Afterwards about 3 weeks later I get a letter in the mail saying that there is an arreest warrant out for me because I did not pay the fee. THEY ACTUALLY CHARGED ME FOR BEING FOUND NOT GUILTY!! The people, I find to be extremely rude and the drivers either drive insanely slow or dangerously fast. This city is violent with murders happening daily. Yet the police harass people and pull them over for no reason. I would reccomend staying away from Newark. And whats the deal with sending people to Jail for unpaid parking tickets??? that is insanity at its greatest to me. This poor man died because he could not afford to pay his parking tickets… Great Job!!!!

That’s it…. keep mixing traffic offenders in with real criminals…. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? WHAT DID YOU TELL THE FAMILY OF THIS MAN? “WE’RE VERY SORRY?” SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS, BESIDES THE MURDERING CREEP THAT DID THE CRIME.